Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-26
MILES AND MILES OF TREES.
Ahe work Accomplished by the Park.
Ing COmmissiOn.

COnmt001Oms
HOW THE STREETS OF THE CITY HAVE BEEN SHADED
slxTf-THRRE THOUSAND TREES OF MANY VARIETIES
THE REMOVAL OF OLD rREEs-THE PRESENT CON-
DITIoN OF THE WORK.
The long and regular rows of beautiful trees con-
stltute feature OF the national capitals beauty
that denghts everybody. Indeed the shaded
streets ana avenues frequently get mention as the
niost attractive OF the many ornaments of WASH
ington. 1t has required considerable care and
some expense to give the city its l4O miles Of
shaded streets, comprising 2s0 miles OF trees; but
the result attained is not to be measured by dollars
ana cents The work OF thoroughly and extensive
~ shading the city, OF extending double rows OF
trees along all the streets and avenues ON the
outer edge OF each sidewalk, was begun under
GOV. shepherds administration, but it was com.
mitted to parking commission consisting OF Mr..
Mm; r. smith. superintendent OF the Botanical
OF the gardens and GROUNDS OF the Ap1icuiturai
Department and Mr.. John Saul. Messrs Smith
and saunders have been the active directing mem
Ders OF the commission Mr.. Saul being associated
with them as an arbitrator In the event that the
Two should dfffer as to means or methods Bur az
ME- MI: Stnish remarked 10 STAR reporter I'm speak,
ing OF the commission, saunders and have never
work." -'-- ',-'
TEE NURSERY.
One OF the first cares OF the commission was to
select trees OF hardy nature, adapted to the
climate and the soil and surroundings, and which
would not be too slow in developing Some were
procured from the surrounding woods and some
were purchased from nurseries That was in the
INFANCY OF the undertaking, and some experiment.
ing hau 10 De done. 1t was aScer.aiped that wild
trees, selected from the woods did not do so well
as those cultivated In nurseries. This fact being
Set1ira nursery was established TO supply the
commission with trees from year to year to con-
tnue the system OF shading as the city extended
ana 10 supply the places OF such trees as might
workhouse, and there Mr. smith has made his
study or tree propagation to meet the wants OF
the national capital The experimental stage
lost by the commission has been remarkab small
very Few have died. In the nursery there are now
lOOoOO trees ready for transplanting, besides In.
huherapie seedlings at different stages OF growth
speaking OF the occasional removal OF old trees
ana OF complaint sometimes heard that there
was was want0n destruction OF old veterans to make
porter: mo tree has ever been removed unless r.
was 10 make decided improvement. We have
never yet removed an old tree without first CON.
sulting about 1t with the greatest care In no sin
gle case has tree been removed unless it was to
MAKE room Tor better one and to add to the gem
Graz improvement or course IL IS not possible for
every person TO understand these matters and
Wnlie The commission cannot undertake to
answer such criticisms from every source. it can
De sad In answer TO all, that greater caution
could not be observed In the matter OF destroying
Old Trees. We make 1t rule TO preserve them
Wherever IL Is practicable"
THE VARIETIES NOW GROWING.
According to the latest calculation of the COM
mission the leading varieties of shade trees now
growing, given in miles OF rows, are as follows:
White naples, 10 miles; Carolina popars 10 miles:
elms, ID miles; lindens, Ii miles: ash-leaved
naples. 10 miles; Norway naples 9 miles: other
varieties, embracing about 10 900 trees 27 miles:
In all, l4O miles. or the White naples there are
Norway naples, =, 7s6; Iindens, $3.50; sycamores
American ana oriental, 4,515: elms $685. Carolina
poplars, 1850. There are also or sugar naples,
Austrian, Turkish, and cut-leaved NAPLES and
total number OF shade trees now Growing
on streets and avenues about six9y-three
thousand. The growing trees are principally OF the
following Species the names given being those by
which the trees are commonly known: SOFT or
white maple. Norway maple, ash-leaved maple,
linden, sycamore, or buttonwOod American, Euro,
pean slippery. and winged elm, Carolina poplar
LOmpardy poplar, Grecian poplar, Turkistan Don.
m mar sugar ana or SoS maple sca
laurel-leaved willow, Ginkgo or maidenshair tree:
sweet sweet gum, OAKS mixed; horse chestnut, Kentucky
cypress, mixed, and ZelkOna tree.
NO VACANCIES EXIST.
The average distance between the trees is about
% feet, and the commission Ia 50 wetchful and
attentive that no vacancies in the rows are to be
found. From the time they are transplanted the
trees are watched with care and those which show
evidences OF dying are promptly replaced with
fresh ones from the nursery. The same care has
been bestowed upon the trees In all portions OF the
city, SO that even in the outer limits where i'm.
provements have not yet generally extended the
unbrokel lines OF beautiful shade trees exist tust
as within the heart OF the city,
Very naturally, the members of the parking
commission feel great pride the shade trees and
they are grained at the remarkable success that
has attended their Efforts Under their careful
the shade trees receive close attention
When first planted they are boxed and IA the
trees expand and the trunks enlarge the boxes are
Increased in size. As they grow the essential
matter OF trimming is attended TO-
The annual cost or planting, preserving and ex.
tending the system OF shade trees is about s1s
which also includes the expense OF the nursery
AS the city expands so rapidly 1t is estimated that
the commission could use So, 600 with decided
advantage, and possibly, In view OF the beneficent
results attained, that sum may be allowed by
Congress.